Undergraduate Journalism: Advertising

Companies are looking for enthusiastic and creative people like you to produce ads and ad campaigns that bring their brand story to life in engaging ways through all types of platforms, including television, radio, smartphones, print, Internet, and social media.

Our faculty, student agencies, and facilities can help you learn how to advertise in a rapidly changing world of communications and technology. Whether you’re interested in copywriting, art direction, account management, audience research, or media planning, we will prepare you for an exciting life as a professional in the fast-paced world of modern advertising.

While on a four-month trip to Liberia with a local nonprofit group, Laura Merz, '11, advertising, used her expertise to raise the necessary support to help a young local girl.

Read her story.

What type of advertising interests you?

The advertising world offers careers for all different types, from “idea people” to “people-people” skilled at managing client relationships. Depending on your interest, you’ll choose one of three focus areas of study:

Account Management. As the liaison between ad agency and the client, account managers are masters of diplomacy who finesse both the clients’ expectations and the creative department’s egos.

Creative Development. What is a creative? If you enjoy graphic design and if you question the rules and roles of current ads and advertising, you belong in the creative department. From print and web design to copywriting and concept development, creatives transform ideas into campaigns that get results.

Media Planning. Media planners have a critical job: to ensure advertising is seen—and seen by the right people. That means placing ads in the right place, at the right time, with the right frequency. Media planners are strategists.

All good advertising is driven by strategy—and all strategy is based on the target audience. Consumer insight is driven by research to understand and reach that key audience. You will learn how to answer questions such as, “What media do people use?” and “What makes people interested in this brand or product?”

Integrated Sales

Learn how a student sales executive sold nearly $50,000 in revenue in a single semester.

Lead while you learn.

You can apply your skills as soon as you start your college career. All advertising students are invited to participate in:

Adapt, our student-operated advertising agency. At Adapt, you’ll have the chance to create advertising campaigns for real-life products and businesses.

American Advertising Federation, the nation's oldest national advertising trade association. Our chapter gives you a chance to develop valuable leadership skills while working on a national ad competition team.